New law limiting fireworks use could be in effect by the Fourth of July

May 21, 2013

A collection of new legal firework devices as described by the Bureau of Fire Services within the Department of Labor and Economic Growth seen here on Thursday, May 31, 2012 at Motor City Fireworks in Monroe, Mich. / Jarrad Henderson / Detroit Free Press

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Detroit Free Press Lansing Bureau

Alcohol bills clear hurdle

Despite concerns that people could be over-served at farmers markets, the House Regulatory Reform committee voted 12-0 today to pass a bill that would allow for wine tastings and sales at farmers markets. Sen. Goeff Hansen, R-Hart, said the bill is “pro-Michigan, pro-business and pro-agritourism. I’m pretty confident this is going to be successful.” The bill would limit the tastings and sales to winemakers who produce 5,000 gallons of wine a year or less, which whittles the eligible vineyards to 60 of the state’s 100-plus winemakers. It also requires a $25-per-market permit fee for the vintner and the approval of both the market and the local police department. The House committee also unanimously passed a bill that would allow bars and restaurants to refill “growlers,” a 1-gallon sealed container of beer to go. The bills — SB 27, 79 and 279 — now move to the full House for final passage.

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LANSING — A new law limiting when fireworks can be used may not be enacted by Memorial Day, but state legislators said they are hoping to complete the bill by the Fourth of July.

The bill would limit fireworks to three-day periods surrounding 10 national holidays and allow towns to enact ordinances that would prohibit the lighting of fireworks from midnight to 8 a.m.

The restrictions would come on the heels of a 2012 fireworks season that lasted for weeks in some communities because of a new fireworks law. With the availability of higher-power pyrotechnics, the first year of the new law was supposed to bring in up to $40 million in new license fees to the state coffers. Only about $3 million materialized. Instead, complaints about the late-night racket that bigger fireworks created rained down on communities and lawmakers.

Gov. Rick Snyder’s office received more than 500 complaints after the Fourth of July last year.

In addition to cities and towns being able to restrict the hours when fireworks are used, they also would get some of the revenue — up to 70% of what’s raised in each community — from the license fees.

Clark said that was a bigger problem for the township because officials didn’t feel the law allowed them to adequately inspect tents set up to sell fireworks.

Township officials said they hope the newness of the fireworks law will fade this year, and that they won’t enact an ordinance limiting the time the pyrotechnics can be discharged. But if the whiz-bang of the bottle rockets and roman candles continues, that could change, Clark said.